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For decades, Rajdhani Express has been one of India's best-known premium train services. It became popular for connecting New Delhi with major cities, especially for passengers travelling overnight. Vande Bharat came much later and was introduced mainly for faster intercity journeys, offering air-conditioned seating and shorter travel times on several routes. With Vande Bharat Sleeper trains now entering service, the difference between the two services is becoming smaller.
How Rajdhani and Vande Bharat Started
The first Rajdhani Express was introduced in 1969 between New Delhi and Howrah. It covered around 1,450 km and took about 17 hours and 20 minutes during its inaugural journey. The name Rajdhani comes from the Sanskrit word for capital, reflecting its purpose of connecting New Delhi with major cities and state capitals.
Vande Bharat is a newer service. Its first commercial service began in February 2019 between New Delhi and Varanasi. The 759-km journey was scheduled to take around eight hours. The train was initially known as Train 18 during development.
Rajdhani Vs Vande Bharat Speed and Travel
Vande Bharat can operate at speeds of up to 160 kmph on eligible sections. Certain services on the Tughlakabad-Agra section currently achieve this maximum operational speed. During trials, Vande Bharat trainsets reached speeds of up to 183 kmph.
However, the train does not run at 160 kmph throughout the journey. Travel time depends on the route, track conditions, speed restrictions, traffic, stations, and the number of stops.
Rajdhani services generally have a maximum operational speed of around 130 kmph, while their average speed varies depending on the route.
Rajdhani Vs Vande Bharat Seats and Sleeping Berths
Standard Vande Bharat trains have Chair Car and Executive Chair Car classes. They offer air-conditioned seating, with Executive Chair Car providing more spacious seats. These trains do not have traditional sleeping berths.
Rajdhani has First AC, Second AC, and Third AC classes. First AC offers cabins and coupes on specific trains, while Second AC and Third AC provide two-tier and three-tier sleeping accommodation.
Vande Bharat Sleeper is changing this difference. Its dedicated sleeper trainsets have 16 air-conditioned sleeper coaches for long-distance travel.
Rajdhani Vs Vande Bharat Food and Comfort
Vande Bharat catering can include tea, breakfast, lunch, dinner, and evening snacks, depending on the journey and departure time. Items may include poha, upma, paratha, sandwiches, cutlets, paneer dishes, dal, chicken, roti, rice, desserts and beverages. Catering can be optional on several services.
Rajdhani also provides meals such as breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner, depending on the route and timings. First AC passengers may receive additional items such as soup.
Vande Bharat features automatic doors, improved seating, GPS-based passenger information, CCTV, charging points and bio-vacuum toilets. Rajdhani has also received upgrades through Tejas Rajdhani coaches, which include automatic doors, CCTV, fire and smoke detection systems, improved interiors and bio-vacuum toilets.